Game



- July W, 1935.. J. H. WARNER GAME Filed May 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III IIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA fizz/6221074 08 Jf/Var/aef y 1935. J. H. WARNER 2,008,479

GAME

Filed y 2 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 16, 1935.

Filed May 25, 1935 J.- H. WARNER GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 16, 1935 a a UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE GAME Joe HJWarner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Coin Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation' of Illinois Application May 25, 1935, Serial No. 23,489

14 Claims. (01; 273-119 The present invention relates to game appathrough the control mechanism taken substanratus adaptable for use in coin operated games tially along the lined-4 of Figure 3 looking in such as are commonly used in hotel lobbies, railthe direction of the arrows; way stations, cigar stores, and the like. Figure 5 isa circuit diagram illustrating the 5 It is an object of the invention to provide a invention;

game played with balls which are propelled over Figure 6 is a circuit diagram applied to the a playing field that has openings in it through control mechanism in Figures 3 and 4; and Figwhich the balls are adapted to fall. The field ure 7 is a diagrammatic View showing a part of is designed to represent the playing field or court the control mechanism.

10 of the particular game, such as baseball, and the So-called pin board games, conditioned for 10 openings through which the balls drop are marked playing by the insertion of a coin in a suitable to designate the various plays of the game. coin slot, and played by manual manipulation of A main object of the invention pr v for certain levers by the player, are well known to making the game more interesting 0' p y those skilled in the art. Such machines are that it will attract and hold the interest of plaY- usually provided with a-substantially planar play- To this h ObjeCtS 0f the ing field located directly beneath the glass top of inv nti n, Iamps r p v d d up n the playin the cabinet of th machine, so as to be visible field and arranged to designate the various steps therethm gh, The playing field i inclined of t e e t S be p y d- That is, if the slightly with the low side adjacent to the players a is designed to p y baseball, amp will r position, The playing field is equipped with vari- 20 a baseball diamond and will be operated to exe- Gus bames, traps, prings and the like to direct cute a pitched ball, a hit, and the runni O the the course of the ball that is being played, and is bases. provided with a plurality of holes, openings or It is a further object of the invention to propockets into which the ball is to be dropped, the

vide a p Control mechanism that is p e objectrof' the game being to drop the ball through 25 by a ball that has dropped through one of the t Openings f highest value s machines Openings in the p y field 130 Seqllehtly and are usually provided with a suitable mechanism termittently light the lamps needed to P u or a lamp board for indicating score made by the t p ay designated'by the p n through wh player with a given number of balls played,

the ball dropped, and to register the score seusually 30 cured by the p y if a Score is made thereby- The present invention relates generally to a Still another object of the invention lies inthe machine of this type, although, as 111 be provision of a control mechanism for a ga h of parent to those skilled in the art, the teachings of this type that is simple and rugged, is f fl the invention may equally well be applied to other pensive to manufacture, is capabl o being mtypes of game apparatus. In the embodiments of 5 tained in M 1 Working condition y relatively the invention shown in the drawings, the invenineXperiehced men and at low (105ttionis applied to a baseball game, this showing Still another object of the invention lies in the b in made by way of examine only and is to 111uS p ovision or" a control mechanism that can. b trate the teachings of the invention and is not to a y adapted to tro the play number limit the invention to a baseball game. To this 4 of different games. i end, in Figure 1, there is shown a plan view of Further Obj of the inVehti0n,:h0t Specifithe cabinet of the machine, and a playing field Cally mentioned here, Will be pp from the 10, which is bordered by a wall II, that rises detailed description and claims which follow, ref- Vertically 1f of th fie1d The n is shaped erence b in had to h comp nyin wi s to direct the course of the ball in the usual man- 4 i which a preferred ment of the V 'nner.. Located upon the playing field is a baseball tion is shown by way of example and in which: diamond [2, which is surrounded by a spring Figure l is a plan view of a game machine or rail l3, that serves to direct the balls used embodying the invention; a in playing the game and to prevent them from Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly diagramrolling across the diamond. 50 matic, of the machine shown in Figure 1; The home plate of the diamond is marked FigureB is afragmentary plan view of the 0011- by a lamp M, which may be colored and the trol mechanism of the machine drawn to an enbases are marked by lamps l5, l6, and H, which larged scale; may likewise be colored, either with the same Figure '4 is a diagrammatic elevational View color ashome plate or with a difierent color. 55

Base running lamps l8, are positioned between home plate and first base, similar lamps l9, are positioned between first and second, lamps 20, between second and third, and lamps 2|, between third and home. Pitching lamps 22, extend from pitchers box to home plate, and are preferably colored with a distinctive color.

The playing field is also equipped with a plurality of on deck lamps 23, and with a similar plurality of to the dug-out lamps 24. These lamps being colored difierently from the others.

The lamps on the board are preferably provided with a suitable cap or housing made of transparent material to which the coloring dye is applied.

The playing field is provided with a spring baffle 25, against which the ball strikes as it is propelled over the field, the propelling mechanism indi-' cated at 26, being any conventional type of mech-. anism and not being of the essence of the present invention. 'An'opening 2?, is provided near the spring baflie 25, and may be designated as home run opening, suitable guards 28, being located adjacent to opening 27 to make the entrance of the ball therein more difiicult.

As is customary in a game of this kind a shuffle board, indicated generally at 30, is disposed within the cabinet of the machine and directly under the playing field, this board being provided with openings and levers by which the machine is cleared and conditioned for play by the insertion of a coin in the coin chute 3|, and manual manipulation of the coin mechanism. -The coin mechanism and arrangement by which it controls the shuffle board is conventional and is not of the essence of the present invention.

The shuffle board is provided with a groove or channel 32, leading from home run opening 21, to the control mechanism so as to conduct a ball that has fallen through this opening to a proper position in the control mechanism, as will presently appear.

The playing field is also provided with an opening 53, which connects by a channel 34, in the shuffle board to the triple position in the control mechanism, so that a ball dropped through the opening 33, will register a triple. An opening connects by means of a channel 35, to the double position in the control mechanism so that a ball dropped through this opening will record a double. There are a plurality of openings til, which connect by channels'38, to single position in the control mechanism so that a ball dropped through any one of these openings will register a single. provided with a miscellany of holesand openings into which the ball may drop "without causing the control mechanism to actuate, and these holes may be conveniently designated as outs, fouls and the like. i.

s As will be seen in Figures 2, 3, and l, the control mechanism may comprise a disc or member ill, which is mounted upon a shaft 4|, that is journalled for rotation in a suitable bushing 42, carried by a stationary plate 43. The disc may be conveniently made of metal and the plate 43,

froman insulating material such as fibre or bakelite. The disc 48, contains two series of openings or pockets, an inner series comprising single pocket 44, a double pocket not shown on the drawing but located around the disc from' pocket i4, a triple pocket 45, located from pocket 44', and a home run pocket 46, located 270 from pocket 44. A second series of openings, which may be termed the control The playing field is also openings, are located at the outer periphery of the disc, and comprise an opening 47, located at the starting point of the disc, second opening 48, located 90 therefrom, and third and fourth openings not shown but located 180 and 270 respectively from the startingpoint. The channels in the shuffle board conduct the balls that havedropped through the openings in the playing field to; the one of the pockets in the inner series corresponding to the value of the opening through which the ball dropped.

A generally U shaped baffle or deflector 5B, is suppOrted upon a bracket 5|, that is fixed upon the plate 43, the baflle extending at an angle with respect to the direction of travel of the disc and extending across the path of the row of pockets 44, 45, and 46, so that balls which are resting in these pockets will be removed therefrom and carried into alignment with the outer series of openings in the disc. The U shaped portion of the baille holds the ball in alignment with the openings such as 41 and 48 until one of these openings comes within the baffle, at which time the ball drops into the opening and passes out of-the bafile. The second and shorter leg 52, of the baffle is in the path of travel of the outer row of openings and serves to remove the balls therefrom after the balls have traveled completely around the disc from the starting point.

The game machine is provided with arrangements for holding balls which are discarded from the disc until the end of the game, this holding means being released by an operation of the shuffie board so that those balls may be used in the next game. The arrangement for holding the balls and for releasing them at the proper time is a conventional arrangement of machines of this type and not of the essence of the present invention, and has therefore been omitted to avoid an unnecessary complication of the drawings.

Disc 46, carries four sets of springs 53, spaced thereon so as to terminate at the approximate center of the pockets 44-45 inclusive, and also carries four sets of brushes 54, which terminate beneath the respective ones-of the pockets 44-46 inclusive. Through these springs and brushes movements of the disc are controlled by the delivery of a ball to the proper pocket in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

Disc 40, also carries four sets of springs 55, placed so that they terminate beneath the openings 41, 48, etc., in the outer series, and four sets of wipers 56, which are located one adja: cent to each of these outer openings. Each wiper set, 56, comprises an inner and an outer wiper.

The insulating plate 43, carries a segment 51, located so as to be engaged by brushes 54. As will be seen in Figure 4, one terminal of the source of power 58, is connected by a suitable brush 59, to the shaft 4|, and thence to the disc 40. For convenience the source of power is shown as a battery although it may be a step down transformer, or a voltage reducer if it is desired to operate the machine on commercial current. The upper one of the springs in each of the spring sets 53, is connected to the disc, and the lower springs of the sets are connected to a collar 60, that is carried upon the shaft, but insulated therefrom. A motor 6|, has one terminal permanently connected to the other terminal of the source of current 58, and a second terminal connected by a suitable brush 62, to the ring 553. The springs of spring sets 53, are normally open. When a ball drops into one of the pockets 44-46, these springs are pressedtogether to close the circuit to the motor,'causing that motor to rotate. The

motor is connected through a suitable chain of reducing gears indicated at 63 in Figure 4, to the disc, so that the disc will be rotated. Brushes 54, are disengaged from segment 5'5, when the disc is at rest, but are moved into engagement therewith after the disc has been rotated through a few degrees. Brushes 54, are connected to the disc 4t, and through their engagement with segment 51, maintain the circuit of the motor closed independently of spring sets 53. Segment 5! is of sufficient length to insure that the disc will be moved through a definite arc each time it is started. In the embodiment shown this are is 90, but its value may be varied to change the number of steps required forone revolution of the disc.

Thus it will be seen that if a ball is dropped into the pocket 44, representing a single, the disc will start and will move in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 3. After the disc has moved through approximately 30 the ball will be removed from the opening 44, by bafile 59. Before this happens wiper 54, will be in engagement withsegment 5! and rotation of the disc will continue through the balance of the 90 arc. Similarly, if a ball is placed in opening 45, the disc will be moved through 186 to bring the opening 45, into the position in which opening 44, is shown in Figure 3, after which the disc will move through another 90 as above explained. If a ball is placed in opening 45, the disc will be moved through 270 to bring that opening into the position in which opening 44,

i is shown in Figure 3, and will move through another 90 from that position. It will be readily understood that there is but one segment 51, on the plate, and that that segment is successively engaged by succeeding ones of the brushes 54, as the disc is rotated.

In order to translate the movementof the disc as above explained into sequential operations of the lights upon the. playing field, circuit connections are extended through the outer setsof springs and Wipers in the manner presently to be described. In Figure 5 I have shown a schematic diagram of the circuit arrangement best illustrating the underlying principle of the invention, although it does not employ the disc above referred to. Referring now to Figure 5 in more detail I have indicated by dotted lines '55), the path to be taken by a ball after it has dropped through the opening in the playing field. A ball dropped into the home run opening starts at the top of the figure at the point indicated by the arrow leading from the home run legend. A plurality of spring sets each comprising a main and a make contact are positioned so that the ball will press the springs together as it travels along the path, it. A ball delivered from the "triple hole in the playing field enters the path at the point indicated by the arrow leading from the legend triple, there being a similar set of springs adjacent to that point. Similarly, the ball from the double enters the path at the point of the arrow leading from the legend double, and the ball delivered from the single opening at the point indicated by'the arrow leading from the leg-end single, there being spring sets adjacent each of these points.

When the game is conditioned for playing a ball H, is held in path it, below the aforementioned spring sets by a suitable stop the ball resting upon main spring '53, and presses it into engagement with its make contact to. extend a circuit'iroin the plus side of a'source of current 22; Thus as 'a ball entering the path at home,

run position rolls across'themain springs of set 74, pitching lamps 22, will be lighted one after another. Spring set 14, also includes a main spring 18, whose make contact is connected to the negative terminal of the source of current. The main spring'is connected to one terminal of the electromagnet 19, the other terminal of which is connected by conductor 89, through a chain of normally closed contacts 8!, S2, 83 and 84, to the other or positive terminal of the source of current. When the ball rolls over main spring 18, magnet 19, energizes and moves stops 85, into the path 70; Energization of magnet it, closes make contact 19 and extends a circuit irointhe negative terminal of the source of current to. the magnet independently of spring it. The movement of the ball is arrested by stop 85,

Energization of magnet it, removes stop '12, from in frontof ball H, to permit that ball to travel downward along path 19. Main springs 86,are connected-to the positive terminal of the source of current, and positioned so as to be pressed into engagement with their respective make contacts by-ball H, whose'make contacts are connected to the free terminals of the run lamps l8, locatedbetween home plate and first base, and the lamps are lighted one after the other. 9

When the ball 1 I, strikes the main spring 8 I, in spring set 86, it opens the chain circuit of magnet 79, to permit that magnet to dc-energize,

whereby stop pin 37, is returned to the path iii, to stop the ball 1!. The ball is then resting upon main spring 88, to hold it in engagement with its make contact which leads to one terminal of the lamp I 5, at first base, so as to light the lamp to indicate that the runner is on first base.

-De-energization of the'magnet 19, removes stop 85, fromin front of the play ball to permit that play ball to passbver the main springs in set 75'. {Since there is no ball located upon springs '53, the main springs of set 15, will not be connected to positive battery and the pitching lamps 22,will not be lighted. When the ball engages main spring 89, in set-l'5, magnet 19, will again be energized and looked through the chain cir-'- cuit. Energization of the magnet removes stop 81-, from in front of ball II, to permit that ballto continue in path over the main springs of set 90 ,thereby to first extinguish the first base light as ball moves off of spring 88, and then to light the' run lamps I9, between first and second bases'as the ball proceeds. When main spring 82, is engaged by ball'll, the chain circuit of magnet 19, is" broken and that magnet de 'energizes to place stop 9|, in front of the ball so that it is stopped upon main spring92. The make contact of this main spring extends to second'baselamp I6; tolight that lamp and indioate that the. runner is-on second base.

De-energizationof the magnet 19, releases the play ball whichadvances over the main springs in set 15, and re-energizes the magnet 19, as before. The re-energization of the magnet removesstop pin 9|, from in front of ball, to

permit that ball to travel over the main springs in set 93. The make contacts of these main springs are connected to run lamps 20, located between second and third bases, and these lamps are lighted to indicate the progress of the runner. The chaincircuit is broken when the ball ll, strikes main spring 83, whereupon magnet 79, is de-energized and stop pin 94, is positioned to stop ball II, upon main spring 95, whose make contact leads to the third base lamp I1. That lamp is lighted to indicate the position of the runner on third base.

De-energization of the magnet 19, again. releases the play ball and permits it to travel across main springs 11, at the end of which travel, magnet i9, is energized as before and a stop 85, positioned to arrest the movement of the play ball. Energization of the magnet removes stop 9 from path or play ball II, to permit that ball to travel over the main springs of set 96, whose make contacts are connected to run lamps ZI, located between third base and home, to light those lamps in sequence as before. When the ball strikes contact 84, the chain of magnet 79, is broken, and that magnet falls back, but ball II, is not arrested. The ball continues engaging main spring 91, which is connected through its make contact to homeplate light M, to flash that lamp indicating the scoring of the run, and continues across main springs 95, which are connected through their respective contacts to one terminal of the dug-out lamps 24, to light those lamps to indicate the return of the player to the dug-out. tinues in path 79, into engagement with main spring 99, in the scoring mechanism thereby closing acircuit from the positive terminal of the source of current through a chain of contacts in the scoring mechanism, through main spring 99, and its make contact to score lamp I. The ball ll, comes to rest upon main spring 99, to maintain score lamp I, lighted to indicate that one run has been scored. De-energization of magnet is, by ball H, engaging main spring 84, releases the play ball and permits it to pass over main springs I90, which through'their make contacts are connected to on deck lamps 23, to light those lamps and indicate the coming to bat'of another player." The play ball continues across main spring IIlI, to energize a kicker magnet I92. Kicker magnet I92, is arranged to remove the second one of two balls from the runway should two balls be located at, the home plate main spring 13, at the same time. The play ball comes to rest upon main spring 13, in'position in which'ball II, is shown in Figure 5, to light'home plate lamp 24, as before.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when a home run is hit, the play ball moves in four distinct steps to advance a control ball through four distinct steps and thereby run a player around the bases in order to register arun. Obviously, if the play ball enters the path ID, at a triple point, only three steps will be carried out, and control ball ll, will be stopped at third base position on spring 95, and the play ball will then be brought into the home position I on spring 719.

In the case of a double only two steps are executed and in the case of a single one step. Successivefsingles will position three controlballs in path '10, one on each of the three bases, and the nexthit will advance as many of those balls over the home plate as thevalue of the hit warrants.

' The foregoing description of the'schematic ar- The ball con-V rangement shown in Figure 5 will aid in the un-' derstanding of Figure 6, which shows in dianormally resting upon a segment Hi1, which is connected to home plate lamp I4. Since the disc is connected to one terminal of the source of current, the home plate lamp will be lighted to indicate that the batter is up to bat. When the disc is moved, as previously explained, wipers 55, move along contact segment l I 9, the outer wiper 56, moving offof that segment after inner wiper 56, moves on to'segment III, This latter segment is connected to segment I I9, to maintain the home plate lamp it, lighted. Outer wiper 55, then moves into engagement with the contacts H2, which are connected to pitch lamps 22, to light those lamps in sequence. The inner wipers 56, move off of contact III, at the instant that the outer wiper engages the last one of the pitch contacts I 52, so that the home plate lamp I4, is ex tinguished. When wiper 55, engages contact II 3, home plate lamp is again lighted for a moment to indicate a hit. The wiper then moves into engagement with the contacts of group H4, which are connected to base running lamps I3, to indicate the advance of a player to first base. Wiper 55, then moves into engagement with segment I I 5,

which is connected to first base lamp I5, and

which is located 90 from the starting point. If a single has been registered the disc comes to rest at thisipoint' as previously explained.

Assuming for the moment that a home run has been hit, the disc continues to rotate and wiper 56, moves off of contact M5, to extinguish first base lamp !5, and into engagement with contacts H6, which areconnected to base running lamps I9, located between first and second bases, to light those lamps in sequence. Wiper 55 then moves into engagement with second base contact In,

to light it for an interval slightly longer than the interval during which the running lamps are lighted. Contact H7, is located 180 from the starting point. Wiper 59 continues into engagement with contacts or" group E E6, which are connected to base running lamps 29, between second and third bases to light those lamps, and then into engagement with contact H9, located 270 from starting point and connected to third base lamp I'l. As wiper 5E5 continues, the contacts of group I29 are engaged, these contacts being connected to the run lamps 2!,located between third base and home plate. It will be noted that the contacts of group me, are spaced closer together than the contacts oi'the'other base running groups so that the player advances to home plate rapidly. Wiper then engages contact I 2 I, which is connected to the home plate lamp 4, to flash that light and indicate the scoring" of the run, and then proceeds to contacts I22 which lead to to dug-out lamps 24, thence to contact I23,

leading to a scoring'mechanism I24, and thence to contacts I25, which lead to the on deck lamps 23, the wiper coming to rest upon the completion of 360travel in engagement with segment H0,

opening springs 55 to insulate wiper 56. The play ball, which fell into the home run pocket in the disc is removed from that pocket and held in the bafiie 553, as explained above. During the latter part of the travel of the disc the opening 41, is aligned with the bafiie and the play ball drops into it to become the controlball in the next play. The ball recloses springs 55, to connect positive battery to the wiper 56, so that when the disc comes to rest, home plate lamp "I4 will be lighted. I

The scoring mechanism I24, is a standard mechanism which per se does not form a part of the present invention. The mechanism comprises a magnet which is energized when the wiper- 56, engages contact A 23, to advance the wiper I26, one step, the wiper being held by mechanical means when the magnet is dc-energized. ihe wiper is connected to one terminal of the source of power and when advanced one step, engages acontact leading to the first one of the score lamps, lighting that lamp to indicate that one score has been registered. As will be seen in Figure 2, the scoring mechanism is also provided with a clear-cut arm I21, which is engaged by the shuffle board 30, and actuated by that board in its movement to condition the game for playing. An actuation of lever, I21, removes the mechanical restraining means or wiper I26, to permit that wiper to return to its normal position in which it is out of engagement with all of its contacts.

.' Referring. now to Figures 2 and 4 it will be seen thatone, or negative terminal of the source of current158, shown for convenienceas 'a-battery, is directly connected to a lead I30, which extends to the lamps, as previously indicated. The other. or positive. terminal of the battery is extended through the timing switch.l3l, which is provided of time, preferably about three minutes, after which the mechanism automatically opens it. By

this arrangement the lamps left lighted in the game, when the player finishes playing are extinguished after a few moments. and unnecessa running down of the battery is avoided. Games of this type are usually provided with a tilt lamp which is lighted to indicate that the game has been tilted in an effort to further the advantage of the player. In Figure 1 I have shown the tilt light control I35, which comprises .a small metallic ball located upon a pedestal and arranged to roll off the pedestal when the game is tilted. This ball closes the circuit to a lamp, not shown, to indicate a misoperation .chine.

of the ma- The scoreboard I38, extends upwardly at the rear of the machine and contains ten score lamps and the tilt lamp. A glass plate closes the front of the board and contains the legends indicating the score, so arranged that the lamp shines through to illuminate the score figure. The tilt chine, may be varied within the teachings of the invent-ion.

It will frequently happen that when a: player ,hasfinished his game there will be one or more men left on the bases, that is play balls will be located in the openings in disc 40. To permit removing the balls by an-operation of the shufile board I have provided a clear-out bracket I31,

Figure '2, on the'shufile board. This bracket is V arrangedto strike against the balls in the openlugs and remove them therefrom to permit them to roll into the ball receptacle of the machine. The clear-out bracket 13-1, does not engage the ball that is located in the opening at the starting position of the disc, that ball serving to indicate batter up and to initiate base running when the game is again conditioned for playing, that is, it is the control ball corresponding. to ball ll in Figure 5. Games of this type usually per-mit the player to shoot ten balls over the playing field after a single coin has been inserted in the coin slot, in which case, in the apparatus shown, eleven balls will be provided, the extra ball being retained inthe control mechanism and never made availableto the player.

bythe use of running lightscontrolled through the play balls I have also provided an improved mechanism for controlling games of this type, a

mechanism which offers many advantages over the mechanisms known heretofore.

While I have chosen to illustrate and describe my inventionin connection with a baseballgame which is played in four distinct steps, I have done so by way of example only as the invention may be equally well applied to games played in a greater or smaller number of steps. I am not to be limited by the illustration and description shown by way of example but rather by the scope of the appended claims.

What is. claimed is:

. 1. In a game machine, a playing field having openings marked to indicate various plays'o'f the game, a plurality of play balls, means for delivering said balls to the playing field one at a time, means for'propelling the balls over the playing field, said ball falling into one of said openings, a control mechanism including a rotatable member having ball-receiving apertures corresponding to said openings, a pluralityof series of lamps on said field arranged to simulate the various steps in thegame, and means: controlled by the ball that; has fallen into said'opening and into one of said apertures for sequentially lighting the lamps of the number of said seriesof lamps indicating the value of the opening through which the ball fell, to simulate the movement of a player executing the corresponding play.

2. In a game, the combination with a playing field having holes, each marked to designate a play in the. game, baflles around the holes, and means for propelling a ball over the field into one of said holes, of a plurality of lamps on said field arranged to represent the plays of the game, a control mechanism including a rotatable member having ball-receiving apertures, means for conducting the ball that has dropped through one of said holes to an aperture in said rotatable member corresponding to said hole, means actuated ;by said ball in said rotatable member for lighting certain ones of said lamps sequentially to execute the play designated by the hole into which the ball fell, a score board, lamps therein, and means actuated by said. ball in said control mechanism .for closing a circuit to a lamp in said score board indicating the score made by said play to light that lamp.

v3. In a game, the combination with "a playing field havingholes'," each marked todesignate a play in the game, bafiles adjacent to the holes, and means for propelling aball over-the field into one of said holes, of aplurality of lamps on said field arranged to similatethe plays of the game, a control mechanism including a rotatable apertured member, means for conducting the ball thathas dropped through one of said holes to an aperture in said member corresponding to said hole, means actuated by said ball in said member for lighting certain ones of said: lamps sequentially to execute the play designated by the hole into which the ball fell.

l; The combination with a game board having a playing field, means for propelling a ball over the field, and baflle means for directing the course ofthe ball, there being a plurality of holes into one of which the ball drops to start the play designated by that hole, of series of lamps on said field arranged to represent the plays of the game; a control mechanism, a disc in said mechanism having a set of motor holes and a set of control holes, means for holding a ball-in the control hole located at a starting point, means for delivering the play ball to the one of said motor holes corresponding to the hole in the playing field through which the ball dropped, a motor for moving said disc, a source of current, a'circuit for said motor closed through said source of current by the play ball in one of said motor holes to start the motor and move the disc,-wipers carried by the disc, contacts engaged bythe-wipers and connected through the said lamps to one side of said source of current, and means actuated by the ball in said control hole for extending a connection from the other side of said source of current to said wiper to complete circuits through said lamps sequentially to execute the play designated by the hole through whichthe play ball fell as the disc moves.

5. The combination with a game board having a playing field, means for propelling a ball over 4 the field, and baiiie means for directing the course of the ball, there being a plurality of holes into one of which the ball drops to start the: play designated by that hole, of series of lamps on said field arranged tosimilate the game, a control mechanism, means defining a. path through said mechanism, means for holding a ball. at a starting point on said path, means for'conductthe play ball from the hole through which it has dropped to a point on said path corresponding to said hole from which point said play ball moves toward said starting point, means actuated by said play ball as it' moves in said path for moving said held ball over said path away from starting point, and means controlled by said latter ball for sequentially lighting said lamps to execute the play designated by the hole through which the ball dropped, said ballholding means holding said'play ball at said starting point and at the end of said play said ball moving means holding said other ball to main- '-tain one of said lamps lighted to indicate the end of said play. "6. The combination with a game board having a playing field, means for propelling a ball over 7 the field, and b-afile means for directing the course *game, a control mechanism including a rotatable member having ball-receiving apertures, means in said mechanism defining the path to be taken by the ball that has dropped througha hole in the playing field, means for conducting the ball from the hole through which it has dropped to an aperture in said member corresponding to said hole, means actuated by the ball for controlling the movement of the ball along said path, circuit means controlled through the ball moving along said path for lighting said lamps sequentially to execute the play designated by the hole. into which the ball fell, and means torremoving said ball from said path at the comple tion of said play.

7. The combination with a game board having a playing field, designed to represent the playing field of the game to be'played, means for propelling a ball over the field, and baflie means for directing the course ofthe ball, there being a plurality of holes into one of which the ball drops to start the play designated by'that hole, a series of lamps on said field arranged to represent the plays of the game, mechanismincluding a rotatable disc having apertures corresponding to said holes for controlling said lights, means for conducting said ball through said mechanism from a starting point corresponding to the hole into which the ball dropped, and means in said mechanism actuated by said ball for lighting said lamps sequentially to execute the play designated ,by the hole into which the ball fell.

8. In a base ball game, a diamond, lamps marking the home plate, first, second and third bases on said diamond, running lamps located between home and first base, first and second bases, sec

0nd and third bases, third base and home-plate, pitching lamps located between pitchers box and home plate, a playing field adjacent to said diamond, therebeing openingsin said field, designating hits, fouls, and outs, means for propelling a ball'over said field into one of said openings, a control mechanism including a rotatable member having ball receiving apertures" corresponding to saidiopenings and means controlled by'said ball dropping intocertain ones of said openings and said apertures for lighting said pitching lamps one after the other and for then lighting as many of said running and base lights as are necessary to execute the play designated by the hole through which the ball dropped.

9;In a game, a control mechanism comprising a stationary plate, a member journalled for rotation on said plate, a motor for driving the member, a source of current, there being a plurality of openings in said member, means for inserting a ball into one of said openings, means actuated by said ball for closing a circuit through said source of current and motor to actuate the motor and rotate the member, and means for maintaining said circuit closed until said member has moved through a definite arc. V e

10. In a game, a control mechanism comprising a stationary plate, a member journalled for rota.- tion on said plate, a motor for driving the member, a source of current, there being a plurality of "openings in said member, means for inserting a said member, and means on said plate engaged by said brush for maintaining said circuit closed until said member has moved through a definite arc.

i 11. In a game, a control mechanism com prising 'a' stationary plate, a member journalledfor rotation on said plate, a motor for driving the member, a source of current, there being a plurality of openings in said member, means for inserting a ball into one of said openings, means actuated by said ball for closing a circuit through said source of current and motor to actuate the motor and rotate the member, and a brush carried by said member, and means for moving said ball from said opening to another one of the openings in said member during the movement of said member through said arc.

12. In a game, a control mechanism comprising a stationary plate, a member journalled for rotation on said plate, a motor for driving the member, a source of current, there being a plu rality of openings in said member, a. ball normal- 1y disposed in one of said openings, means for inserting a second ball into a second one of said openings, means actuated by said ball for closing a circuit through said source of current and motor to actuate the motor and rotate the member, means for moving said second ball from the second one 01 said openings into a third one of said openings durin said movement of said member, contacts on said plate, indicating means connected to said contacts, Wiper means on said member moved into engagement with said contacts by said movement of the member, and means actuated by said first ball for closing a circuit through said source of current, indicating means, contacts and Wiper to actuate the indicating means.

13. In a game apparatus, a control mechanism including a rotatable ball-receiving member operable through a plurality of steps, a control ball in said mechanism, a plurality of lamps, a source of current, means actuated by said ball for extending a circuit through said source of current and one of said lamps to light the same, means for delivering a ball to said member, and means actuated by said latter ball for operating said mechanism through the number or" steps necessary to position said latter ball at a fixed point, said means moving said control ball to break the circuit of said lamp and sequentially close circuits to others or said lamps.

14. In a game apparatus, a control mechanism.

including a rotatable ball-receiving member operable through a plurality of steps, a control ball in said mechanism at a starting point, a plurality of lamps, a source of current, means actuated by said ball for extending a circuit through said source of current and one of said lamps to light the same, means for delivering a ball to said member, means actuated by said latter ball for operating said mechanism through the number of steps necessary to position said latter ball at a fixed point, and means at said fixed point for moving said latter ball from said fixed point to the starting point of said control ball, said operation of said mechanism having moved said control ball to break the circuit of said lamp and sequentially close circuits to others of said lamps.

JOE I-I. WARNER. 

